Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population) in South Asia
South Asia: Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population) was 15.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in South Asia, 1981–2024
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia is 15.0%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is down 24.6% on the previous year and down 69.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia peaked at 80.9% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 15.0%, in 2024.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 80.9% | — |
| 1982 | 80.0% | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 77.9% | -2.6% |
| 1984 | 77.8% | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 77.6% | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 77.7% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 78.0% | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 78.0% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 77.6% | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 77.1% | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 77.1% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 76.7% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 76.0% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 75.4% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 75.1% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 74.8% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 73.5% | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 73.1% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 72.6% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 71.4% | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 69.6% | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 67.7% | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 66.7% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 65.0% | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 61.1% | -6.0% |
| 2011 | 57.6% | -5.7% |
| 2012 | 54.9% | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 52.2% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 49.0% | -6.1% |
| 2020 | 32.6% | -33.5% |
| 2021 | 29.5% | -9.5% |
| 2022 | 25.4% | -13.9% |
| 2023 | 19.9% | -21.7% |
| 2024 | 15.0% | -24.6% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population) in South Asia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -33.5% | 49.0% | 32.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 78.4% | 77.6% | 80.9% | 9 |
| 1990s | 76.0% | 74.8% | 77.1% | 7 |
| 2000s | 70.0% | 65.0% | 73.5% | 8 |
| 2010s | 55.0% | 49.0% | 61.1% | 5 |
| 2020s | 24.5% | 15.0% | 32.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More poverty & inequality data for South Asia
- Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) 2.6% (2024)
- Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) 0.3% (2024)
- Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) 2.4% (2024)
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line 17.6% (2024)
- Poverty headcount ratio at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) 76.9% (2024)
- Poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) 25.8% (2024)
- Prosperity gap 4.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia?
- Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in South Asia was 15.0% in 2024, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
- What is the highest poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 80.9% in 1981.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.0% in 2024.
- How does South Asia rank for poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp)?
- South Asia ranks 8th out of 14 groups with data for 2024.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $4.20 a day at 2021 international prices.